Picture frame hanging device



My 24, 1955 u. J. JACQUT 309,955

PICTURE HANGING DEVICE Filed June 22. 1949 FlG.I

(c) lgdf in '42 URBAN a. .McouET INVENmR.

May 24, 1955 u. J. JACQUET 2,709,056

PICTURE FRAME HANGING DEVICE Filed June 22, 1949 2 SheetswSheet 2 FIG.8

URBAN J. JACQUET INVENTOR.

lll.l

TRNE Y PICTURE FRAME HANGING DEVICE Urban J. Jacquet, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 22, 1949, Serial No. 100,688

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-29) This invention relates to frame hangers such as are used to position picture and certificate frames on walls.

lt is one of the objects of my invention to provide a bracket to be fixed to the back of the picture frame before the frame is hung (on a suitable headed nail or screw xed in the wall) which bracket is so formed that it not only engages the head to suspend the frame, but the bracket also makes it very easy to locate the bracket so that the screw head engages the bracket at the proper point to effect a balanced suspension of the frame on me wall. This is particularly useful in frame hanging where the frames are very large so that the person hanging the frame is unable either to see the nail o1' screw on the wall because the nail or screw is obscured by the frame while hanging takes place, nor is he able to estimate with satisfactory accuracy the relation between the nail and the bracket on the back of the frame.

lt is another object of my invention to provide for hanging a picture frame so that it will hang in balance and therefore with its principal axis vertical and plumb. lt is particularly true of my invention that a true center of balance is easily determined and permanently iixed.

lt is another object of my invention to provide for hanging a trarne in anyrof many possible fixed angles of inclination to the wall surface upon which it is hung. This is' particularly facilitated by the construction of my invention which permits the ixation of the angle after the frame has been hung in place on `the wall.

t is another object of my invention to provide for hanging a frame on a Wall so that its edges remain horizontal and vertical even though the wall be often shaken. lt isV common to observe that. frames are easily shaken out of plumb by street tral'lic or light earth disturbances. This invention avoids this .annoying displacement by simple means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trame r hanging fixture of the kind above `referred to which is adaptable for frames having full. wooden backs or 'for frames having. only paper or fabric backs. lt is another object 'of this invention to provide a hanging bracket. assembly for attachment to a frame which bracket assembly can be so adjusted while hanging the frame that'the frame will hang from a point of balance. It is another object of this invention to provide a frame bracket so that a frame hanging by said bracket from a nail or screw on the wall, will be held in plumb on the wall due to the `engagement of the nail or screw with the bracket.

It is still another object of this invention to provide so that a frame. hanging bracket engages a supporting screw in such a Way that the screw is driven in or out of a wall by using the bracket and frame as a wrench or .screw driver handle. v

It isa still further objectl of this invention to provide aframe hanging bracket construction which, Awhile providing the principal advantages above recited, is also of simple construction and requires no tools, other than its own parts, 'for its installation on wall and frame.

Zfiflibbu Patented May 2d, i955 Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the following specification, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a rear View of a frame showing one embodiment of the invention attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view from the left side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the hanging of the Fig. l modilication;

Fig. 4 is a partial section at l--ll in Fig. l;

Fig. 4a is a plan view of a detail;

Fig. 5 is a back view of a frame illustrating a second modilication;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view illustrating the structural detail and manner of use of the second modification;

Pig. 7 is a partial section at plane 7*-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a back view of a fratrie showing a third modification of the invention; and

`Fig. 9 illustrates the details of the hanging fixture of the third modification; Figs. 9a and 9b showing edge and back views of the bracket plate; Fig. 9c showing the hang ing screw; and Fig. 9d showing the hanging screw as seen from the right or left of Fig. 9c.

The modification of the invention shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 comprises a channel member lll for securement to the wooden side edges l2 of a frame lll, by suitable screws Titi. A bracket 18 formed of stiff but bendable sheet metal is cut out to provide a large window 20 therethrough having two sides 22 and 24 of the window convergent at an obtuse angle, the sides being of about equal length and equally inclined to a center line Y-Y. Near convergence the sides 22 and 24 terminate and join two parallel edges 26 and 28 of a notch 3d the top of which is closed by a curved edge 32. The other ends of sides 2.2 and 24 terminate upon joining two parallel vertical sides i and 3a the lower ends of which are joined by a horizontal edge 3S. The bracket 18 provides a traine for window 2li having a base all, two upright arms 42 and 40.1, and two inclined and joined arms 45 and 48. Tte bracket l is secured by its base 4d to the channel member ill by a screw having a large head :itl so that upon tightening the screw against base lil the bracket 13 is frictionally held against rotation about the screw. The hole in base 40 through which screw 50 passes is preferably a slot elongated in the direction of edge 38 so that the position of the bracket l may be shifted right or left to position the centerline Y-Y approximately in coincidence with the vertical axis of the frame, The bracket lll is further provided with two more horizontal slots 52 and 5ft thru which the set screws S6 and 5S pass. The set screws 56 and S8 are threadedvinto sliding nuts 6l?, having a boss 62 provided with parallel sides 64, slidably and not rotatably received in slots 52 and 54, and having shoulders 6d abutting the bottom of channel lll.

`The base Lili further provides arcuate slots 63 overlying slots 52 and 54 and approximately centered on the screw Sli. The bracket lli is bent on horizontal parallel lines 7l) and '72 to provide an initial bias thereof to the Fig. 2 position for packing purposes.

When the frame of Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4 is to be hung, the elements being assembled as in Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable screw 74- is inserted in a wall 7d. The arms 46 and 48 are bent away from the frame. rlhe screws 56 and 58 are loosened. The frame is now placed so that window 2li registers with the screw 74 somewhere opposite it as illustrated in Fig. 3. Since the window 2li has an area of the order of hundreds of times greaterthan that of the head of screw 7d, such registration is practically eifortless. The bracket is now pushed against the wall '76 and the frame i4 is lowered.- This causes one of guide edges 22 or 24 to engage the shank of the screw 74a Vwith the head 75 passing through the window 2li and. engaging the forward face of the arm adjacent the edge to hold the frame on the shank. The frame is allowed to drop until the shank 74 enters notch 30, the head being larger than notch 30 and being between the frame 14 and bracket 18 at this time. The dotted line position of Fig. 3 is now attained. The frame is now adjusted by rotating it about screw 50 and when properly adjusted for plumb, the frarne and bracket are lifted free of screw 74 while screw 50 holds bracket 18 in adjusted position on channel 10. Screws 56 and 58 are now tightened. The frame is now ready for iinal mounting in the dotted line position of Fig. 3.

The modifications of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 provides a bracket 78 so that adjustment for plumb is obtained directly by turning the frame to the plumb position. A metal plate is die cut, bent and formed to the shape shown in Fig. 6, to provide feet 80 by which the bracket is attached to the frame 84 using suitable screws as shown. Spacing portions 86 are bent at right angles to the feet 80 and they are joined by bridging portion 88 which is, therefore spaced from the frame back. The bridging part 88 provides the guiding edges 90 and 92-corresponding to edges 22 and 24 of Fig l-terminating adjacent a notch 94 having a Width suicient only to receive the shank 93 of a screw having a head 95 providing a slot 96. The distance across slot 96 is such as to allow it to receive two thicknesses of the plate snugly, as shown in Fig. 7.

bled plates at 98 are cut away to leave space for the head 95 to be received between the bar 110 and areas 100 and 102. The lateral areas are also cut away to provide edges 112 separated sufficiently only to receive shank 93 therebetween. Portions 114 are turned down to adjoin portions 108. The distance between the insides of walls 104 and 106 is enough to receive head 95, and the distance between the adjacent surfaces of parts and 108 is more than the height of head 95. The distance from parts 114 to 116 is also enough to receive the diameter of head 95.

It is, accordingly, evident that, with the screw inserted in a Wall leaving shank 93 exposed a little more than the head height, the frame S4 is guided by engagement of edges 90 and 92 with the shank until shank 93 enters notch 94 and head 95 enters pocket 120 defined by parts 108, 114 and 104, being stopped by parts 114. Now the frame is pushed toward the Wall until the top 97 of the screw hits bar 110. lf the screw slot 96 does not receive the bar part, no further movement is permitted. However, by rotating the frame, the bar part enters slot 96, and the head 95 then slides between edges 1.12 and bar 110 to a position as shown in Fig. 7. It is evident therefore that the positions of the slot 96 of the screw determine the position of frame 84, and that by turning the frame the screw is adjusted. Since the screw is normally prevented from rotation by its frictional engagement in the wall, the frame 84 is fixed against shifting due to ordinary vibration.

The inclination of the screw shank 93 to the wall deter-2 mines the inclination of the frame 84 to the wall. With edges 112 and bar 110 closely fitted to the screw head, as shown in Fig. 7, the bar 110 is parallel to the bottom of slot 96 and the frame 84 takes a xed inclination to the axis of shank 93.

The modification of Figs. 8 and 9 is provided for small frames, and is designed as a kit of parts. A bracket of stitf bendable metal plate of uniform thickness is provided with an oifset bend 132 forming a foot 134, a centering guide 136 having inclined guide edges 137 and 139, and a parallel sided notch 138. A pair of screw receiving notches 140 is provided. A special screw 142 having a neck 144 of rectangular section, is provided with a slot 146 of a width such as to receive the thickness of the bracket 130. The length of neck 144 is also only slightly greater than the thickness of bracket 30. Two other screws 143 are provided which are of conventional construction, but having slots equal in width to slots 146.

Assuming that the bracket 130 is to be used to hang a small wooden frame 150, the bracket is positioned on the wooden part of the frame, as shown in Fig. 8, and the positions i52 for screws 148 are marked. The bracket 130 is then removed and screws 148 are now screwed in, using the edge of guide 136 as a screw driver bit, and leaving the screw heads unseated so that the bracket can be slipped under the screw heads for a frictional engagement. Also the screw 142 is driven into the Wall part way using the edge of guide 136 as a screw driver again. The guide 136 is then used as a wrench by engaging slot 138 with neck 144, to obtain a substantial turning moment with little effort. The thickness of the narrowed portion of neck 144 is such as to snugly receive the notch 138 thereover.

The notches 140 are then engaged with screws 148, receiving them in the recesses 154. The bracket 130 is now engaged with the neck 144 of screw 142, the guide edges 137 and 139 being employed for the purpose. When neck 144 has been received in slot 138 the head 145 of screw 142 is between guide 136 and the frame 150, with the position of the plane of guide 136 determined by the shoulders 147 and the bottom 149 of head 145. The screw 142 is now rotated by turning the frame to its desired plumb position. The inclination of frame 150 is adjusted by bending ythe guide to the desired degree at offset 132.

I claim:

l. In combination, a frame, a fastener member having a head and a shank for securemcnt to a wall, and mounting means on the frame for engaging the fastener member, said mounting means providing two slideway edges extending in opposite directions from the vertical centerline of the frame to near the edges of the frame with the edges inclined to each other in obtuse angle relation and convergent upwardly to the center line, said slideway edges presenting rails disposed toward the bottom of the frame and spaced from the frame, a channel member secured to the frame having a base portion for supporting the mounting means and the mounting means having a. base portion; a friction device for securing the base portions of the mounting means and the channel member together for relative adjustment thereof while the frame is hung on the fastener, and means for securing the base portion of the mounting member in adjusted position on the channel member.

2. For use with a picture frame or the like and with a fastener member such as a nail having a head and a shank portion driven into a wall or the like, in combination: mounting means for permanent attachment to the picture frame and for hanging engagement with the head and shank of such fastener member, said mounting means including a fastener engaging element having two slideway edges positioned to extend in opposite directions from the vertical centerline of the frame to near the edges of the frame with the slideway edges inclined to each other in obtuse-angle relation and convergent toward the centerline of the frame, said slideway edges presenting surfaces disposed at right angles to the plane of the frame, said mounting means further having a base element to be iixed to the frame, a friction device for securing the fastener engaging element on the base element so that the two elements may be relatively adjusted while the frame to which they are attached is being mounted on the fastener member by manipulation of the frame, and means for securing the fastener element in adjusted position on such frame and base member.

3. in combination, a frame, a fastener member having a head and a parallel sided neck portion adjacent the head upon which to hang such frame; mounting means for permanent and adjustable attachment to the picture frame and for hanging engagement with the head and shank of such fastener member, said mounting means including a fastener engaging element having two slideway edges positioned to extend in opposite directions from about the middle of the frame to near the edges of the frame with the slideway edges forming a notch having parallel sides separated a distance to snugly fit the neck of the fastener member to prevent relative rotation of the engaging element and the fastener member, and means for securing the fastener engaging element on the frame so that it may be relatively adjusted on the frame while the frame and the mounting means are being hung on the fastener member by manipulating the frame and means for securing the fastener engaging element in adjusted position on such frame member.

4. For use with a picture frame or the like and with a fastener member having a head and a parallel sided shank portion driven into a wall or the like upon which to hang such frame: mounting means for lxed attachment to the References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,211 Kellogg Nov. 14, 1939 2,234,821 Duby Mar. 11, 1941 2,312,667 Murnane Mar. 2, 1943 2,549,766 Benson April 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,380 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1928 

